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We round up the investment wardrobe items you’ll keep forever—all from more sustainable brands.
Buy less, buy better
“Investment piece” is an overused phrase in fashion today, often thrown around to describe key purchases in any given season rather than its true meaning, which refers to buying something that’s timeless and high quality so it’ll serve you well long into the future. What defines timeless depends on your individual style, but what ties together all the items in our curation below is their beautiful design that transcends trends, quality materials and construction, and potential for styling with many different outfits. These qualities are key for clothes you’ll want to keep for longer, which is a key aspect of more sustainable fashion.
Investment also connotes financial outlay, and there’s no getting around the fact that more sustainable clothing does have a higher up-front cost than fast fashion items that are produced by cutting corners to the detriment of the environment and people in the supply chain. We can expect to pay more for better materials and for the garment workers who made the clothes to be paid a living wage, for instance. And although the initial cost is higher, a study by Vestiaire Collective showed that the cost-per-wear of pre-loved designer clothes on the platform averaged at 33% cheaper in the long run than buying brand-new fast fashion products, given how quickly the latter breaks or goes out of style and ends up in landfill.
There is, of course, an affordability aspect to all this, and we recognise that all budgets are different and not everyone can spend hundreds on a single investment item. Our round-up of more affordable brands working responsibly is a great place to start if you’re looking for an approachable entry point, while second-hand from the likes of Vestiaire Collective or eBay is another option to consider.
Why you can trust our recommendations
At Good On You, we provide trustworthy recommendations that align with your values and needs. Our mission is to simplify informed choices while embracing the “buy less, buy better” motto.
To ensure credibility, we aggregate comprehensive, transparent information on fashion sustainability—assessing brands using our leading methodology, developed by diverse experts. Our ratings directory of over 6,000 brands employs a simple five-point scale, curating a list of “Good” or “Great” brands making significant contributions to sustainable fashion.
Our editorial team, driven by expertise and passion, carefully reviews and approves each recommendation, upholding high standards of quality, longevity, and trend transcendence.
While we recognise the value of reusing, mending, and second-hand shopping, our expert ratings system guides you toward new brands aligned with your values and sustainability goals.
